Category Archives: San Francisco Giants

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

Our special guest from AT&T Park in San Francisco is Giants OF Gregor Blanco.

Blanco told The Sports Virus about his relationship with fellow outfielder Mac Williamson:

… “His locker is right next to me and after the games we always chat about his game. I think he’s the future of this team. He’s got the ability to do it. I just try to help him and say this is the Major Leagues and you’re going to have ups and downs. All you need to do is always believe in yourself.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

Today we hear from Nationals Manager Dusty Baker, who also managed the Giants from 1993-2002. The Sports Virus Reporter Ryan Leong also joins us from AT&T Park in San Francisco.

The Sports Virus asked Baker if he thinks Barry Bonds will get in the Hall of Fame some day:

… “I hope so. He certainly deserves it…I think Jeff Kent should be in. He’s not getting much consideration at all. If it’s going by numbers, then his numbers are amongst the top second basemen of all time. If it’s going on popularity, then it shouldn’t be a popularity contest. I think Barry and Jeff should both be in.”

Baker on Daniel Murphy’s season:

… “He should be the MVP at this point. He’s had one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen (and) I’ve seen some good ones. Every time you think he’s going to slow down, he speeds back up again. This guy comes to play, he comes to play every day. He has a great idea of what he’s doing on the bases, in the field and at the plate especially. This guy’s a student. I see him over here studying all the time and he has a heck of an idea of what he’s looking for.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Sergio Romo got back on a Major League mound again this month after missing almost 3 months with a forearm injury. Today he chats with The Sports Virus about his return and what he is focusing on for the rest of the season.

The Sports Virus asked Romo what he’s doing to improve against left-handed hitters:

… “a little bit of an adjustment. I was a little too predictable, one dimensional. Most people think I’m one dimensional against righties also. I kind of feel that I’m starting to change that a little bit. I’m trying to adjust to the game because the game is always adjusting to you.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

Our special guests from AT&T Park in San Francisco are Giants CF Denard Span and KPIX Sports Director Dennis O’Donnell.

Span talked to The Sports Virus about new Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr.:

… “He’s one of the reasons why I played this game. He’s influenced this game so much. I think you could go around every clubhouse in Major League Baseball and I guarantee you probably 95% of the guys would say he was their favorite player growing up. Salute to him. Unbelievable career.”

O’Donnell talked to The Sports Virus about Bruce Bochy:

… “I think Bochy has done one of his best managing jobs since being a Giants manager. If you look at the first half they compiled the best record in baseball really without 30% of their lineup. If you miss that much talent and you have the best record, at some point you’re going to hit the skids. The 1-7 (to start the second half) doesn’t surprise me. They’re not a 1-7 team but I think this kind of streak was inevitable given the fact that so much talent is sidelined.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

Sacramento River Cats Play-By-Play announcer Johnny Doskow joined us Saturday to talk about the Giants Pacific Coast League affiliate.

Doskow was asked by The Sports Virus about Hunter Pence’s rehab assignment:

“ …There’s no reason to rush him. They are going to slow play it and I think it’s smart. You’d rather have a healthy Pence go in mid-August than rush him and have something else happen. Even watching him leg out a double, he’s obviously not 100 percent, but he’s gonna get there and I think the slower you play it the better.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

We talk about the state of the Giants bullpen with former Giants lefty Jeremy Affeldt who now serves as an analyst for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

The Sports Virus talked to Affeldt about late inning relief for the Giants this season:

… “Because of the youth of the pen you don’t know your identity. Are we going to get a shutdown game? Are we going to get a panic scenario?… It’s about walking out and knowing who you are and saying to yourself, ‘I’m a Major League bullpen backend guy. When I go out you’re not supposed to beat me.’ The game is supposed to be over. That’s why you throw your 7th, 8th, 9th inning guys because it IS over…These guys are just missing that because they lack the experience.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Our special guest to talk about the All Star game and the Giants is USA Today Reporter Jorge Ortiz.

Ortiz talked to The Sports Virus about Santiago Casilla:

… “If they don’t pick up an elite closer he’s going to be a critical guy so (Bruce) Bochy needs to keep riding him because what are his options otherwise? You could go matchup, but Javier Lopez has not had a good year, (Sergio) Romo just came off the DL, (Josh) Osich is very young-sometimes good, sometimes not so great, Hunter Strickland throws gas but he is a home-run-giving machine.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

We talk about the second half of the season for the Giants as our regular guest SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us from San Diego in part 2 of our conversation.

The Sports Virus talked to Shea about San Francisco bench players coming through this season:

… “When (Hunter) Pence was lost last year the Giants were done. It was over. They never recovered from that. This year they lose him and don’t miss a beat and just roll into the All Star break…I think (Bruce) Bochy has a lot to do with this. It’s one of his best managerial efforts.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

We talk about the 2016 All Star Game as our regular guest SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us from San Diego in part 1 of our conversation.

The Sports Virus talked to Shea about the All Star Game winning league getting home field advantage in the World Series:

… “I asked Buster Posey, if there is one thing you could change about this All Star Game and it’s process what would it be? He said, ‘We play our tail off for 162 games and you’re giving home field advantage for the World Series to the league that won an exhibition game back in July when most guys are playing no more than 3 innings.’ … “Once the game starts who knows if anybody thinks, ‘I’ve gotta get this hit’ or ‘I’ve gotta make this pitch.’ It’s ridiculous.”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Giants Podcast

Our special guest to talk about the All Star game and the Giants first half is Comcast SportsNet Bay Area Studio Host and Reporter Ahmed Fareed.

Fareed talked to The Sports Virus about Brandon Crawford not making the All Star team:

… “This is the shortstop that won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove last year. It really is a very big oversight not to have him there. I don’t know how you can have Brandon Crawford in the prime, top defensive shortstop and a guy who’s knocking in runs every day (not on the team). He’s gotta be there. You’ve got to find a way to get him there. He’s an MVP candidate. I think he would be a top 5, top 6, 7 guy in the National League and you don’t have that guy on the All Star team?”

Posts navigation

The Sports Virus is your #1 destination for podcasts about the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, Oakland Athletics and San Jose Sharks — all brought to you by Joe Castellano

Latest Chatter from our Podcasts…

The life of a pinch hitter…“You’re either 0 for 4 or 4 for 4 every day. Being able to keep that in check emotionally is big so when you get into that next game, your next chance you can’t be thinking about the last game and how you struck out”***Kelby Tomlinson Listen >

…“We all have a responsibility and that’s to come out here and perform to the best of our ability, for ourselves, our teammates, our ownership and all of these great fans that are coming out here. That’s not going to stop and that’s my job to make sure it doesn’t stop and to keep guys upbeat and the moral good. It’s easy to like your players when they’re going well, but it’s when they are going through such difficult times like we’re going through right now, that’s when they need all of us…We’ll come out of this. Tough times don’t last forever, but tough people do.”***Bruce Bochy Listen >

Will Barry Bonds will get in the Hall of Fame some day?:… “I hope so. He certainly deserves it…I think Jeff Kent should be in. He’s not getting much consideration at all. If it’s going by numbers, then his numbers are amongst the top second basemen of all time. If it’s going on popularity, then it shouldn’t be a popularity contest. I think Barry and Jeff should both be in.”***Dusty Baker Listen >